Business Spotlight: Behind the Scenes

Key card access is a part of daily life. Businesspeople use it almost everywhere, but few probably put much thought into the technology behind the systems.

That’s the job of C&C Group. The company plans and installs access systems in large commercial facilities and also outfits properties with temperature control, security, fire safety and network systems.

The Springfield C&C Group office – one of five for the Lenexa, Kan.-based firm – can connect clients to services handled companywide, but the local crew of 12 primarily focuses on temperature control integration, access and closed-circuit television systems, and fire alarms.

C&C Group was responsible for the complete technology package for the midfield terminal at Springfield-Branson National Airport, including the access control, security and phone systems, as well as the computer networks. The $2.7 million project for C&C Group was the catalyst for opening the Springfield office, says Tim Marshment, vice president and general manager for southwest Missouri, who relocated to Springfield in 2008.

“When we opened the office here, I wanted it to be a local, Springfield company,” Marshment says, noting the autonomy the corporation’s owners give each office. “We have our own (profit and loss statements), and it is a Springfield company – not a company managed out of Kansas City.”

While Marshment says that C&C Group acts mostly independent of the Lenexa office, that doesn’t mean it cannot draw upon the expertise of any of the other offices.

Chris Ball, president and principal architect with Jack Ball & Associates Architects PC, says he finds that broad expertise helpful in working with C&C Group.

“Most companies that sell these types of systems are big national companies with no local office and others are smaller and don’t have the experience level,” Ball says. “C&C is that perfect blend, small enough to be able to call and large enough to call in someone from another office when they are needed.”

Ball says the companies have worked on roughly five projects together, and the teams currently are working on designs for the addition and renovations to Springfield Catholic High School.

Ball says C&C Group works with his firm sometimes from the beginning stages of building design, consulting on the building’s technological aspects.

Working in the construction services industry has been challenging of late. C&C Group revenues, locally and companywide, have followed the slowing in the building development industry.

After running up $3.7 million in 2009 revenues in the Springfield office, largely due to its work on the Springfield-Branson National Airport, Marshment says local revenues last year dropped to $2.5 million. The firm posted 2010 revenues of $2.9 million, which included work on the temperature control package at the Jack Henry & Associates Inc. corporate campus in Springfield. Companywide revenues decreased to $26.5 million in 2011 from $27.3 million the year before.

Marshment says temperature control work in Springfield makes up 60 percent of the business, while the security division and fire alarms account for 20 percent each.

The company is currently upgrading temperature control systems in city and county buildings such as the Environmental Resource Center, the Police and Fire Training Center, City Council chambers, the Busch Municipal Building, the Justice and Judicial Center, Juvenile Center, Greene County Archives and the new Public Safety Center.

Marshment estimates the total worth of those contracts to be in excess of $600,000.

In addition to working on the design phase for the security access and closed-circuit TV and phone systems for the Springfield Catholic project, C&C has bid on Evangel University’s upgrade of its security software.

The company has a background in working on schools.

According to Tony Burrough, executive director for campus security at Central Bible College, C&C Group installed the access control system and cameras at the college three years ago.

Burrough says the school decided to upgrade security in certain buildings at night, as well as in the dormitories. “It keeps trespassers down and keeps people who shouldn’t be on campus from wandering around,” he says.

Burrough says a committee of seven people chose C&C Group because it has a local presence in Springfield. The school also was placed on a service contract, which provides for maintenance and testing of the security system.

Marshment says building its service clients, while still acquiring new projects, should help the company maintain the $2.5 million in 2011 revenue. Companywide, Marshment says C&C Group has projected $28 million in 2012 revenue.

“In this economy, maintaining is gaining,” he says.[[In-content Ad]]